'A great boost to the area': Plans approved for second phase of Passage West greenway upgrade scheme

PLANNING approval has been secured for the second phase of the Passage Railway Greenway Improvement Scheme, with the proposed enhancements expected to deliver a “great boost to the area”.

The second phase of the scheme starts on the northern side of the N40 near Bessborough, crosses the N40 Cork South Ring Road and the Douglas Estuary via bridges, traverses across Harty’s Quay and the R610 Rochestown Road, passes Hop Island, and finally terminates at the Cork City boundary to the west of Passage.

Delighted

Fine Gael councillor in the city’s South-East ward Deirdre Forde, who was Lord Mayor when the first phase of the revamped greenway was officially opened last year, welcomed planning approval for the commencement of the phase.

“I’m absolutely delighted. There’s a lot of money being spent in Cork and much of it elsewhere in the constituency, like the Marina Park and that.

“I think improving this phase of the greenway is a great boost to the area,”

she said.

“I asked for a children’s play area and a public area, and there’s a commitment to do that.

“I think it’s good generally for the people of Rochestown and all the other people,” said Ms Forde.

Meanwhile, Green Party councillor in the city’s South-Central ward, Dan Boyle, also described the grant of planning from An Bord Pleanála as “welcome news”.

“The hope is that work can happen quickly to bring about these improvements,” he said.

“It’s unfortunate that greater use of the riverside walk isn’t being made.

“However, a better greenway will result.”

Upgrade

The proposed development includes the upgrade of approximately five kilometres of the existing Passage Railway Greenway and two interconnecting tracks.

Such works will include the resurfacing and widening of the existing greenway to up to 4m, new surfacing of the tracks accessing Mahon Industrial Estate and the Mahon Interchange to form a shared-use pavement of around three metres in width, and improvement works to the Black Bridge.

Other works will include public realm improvements and landscaping along the route to include planting and biodiversity enhancement measures, seating and play equipment, as well as bicycle parking, repair, and storage facilities.

Conditions

There are 10 conditions attached to An Bord Pleanála’s approval of the second phase of the greenway improvement scheme.

One condition states that all repair works to the Black Bridge, a protected structure, must be carried out under the supervision of a qualified professional who possesses specialised conservation expertise, and that the repair works must “retain the maximum amount possible of surviving historic fabric in situ and shall be designed to give rise to minimum interference with the fabric of the Black Bridge”.